Pedestrian Struck In Cranberry Twp. Hit-And-Run, Man Arrested

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – Struck by a car and left on the side of the road, a young woman out for an evening run says she’s thankful to be alive.

What she has to say about the suspected hit-and-run driver, who admitted to drinking, might surprise some people.

Nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Scherer was jogging along Haine School Road in Cranberry Township around 7 p.m. Thursday when the impact from behind sent her airborne.

“I didn’t even have time to look before the car hit me,” she told KDKA-TV’s Kym Gable. “I didn’t really remember too much between when it hit me and when I hit the ground, but I do remember waking up when I hit the ground.”

Watch Lisa Washington’s report —

Scherer has bruises and abrasions on her legs and shoulders. She was rushed to the hospital and later released.

Meanwhile, police searched for the Toyota Scion witnesses said hit her. Investigators found it parked at a home on Country Vue Court. Inside, they found 24-year-old Mike Mesecke.

He said he didn’t recall hitting anyone, but later admitted he drank boxed wine at a friend’s house. The criminal complaint indicates he admitted he drank about 40 ounces of wine before driving home.

“I know everybody has to take responsibility for what they do and that’s something he’ll take responsibility for in his own time,” Scherer said. “For me, I’m just focusing on the value of life. The value of our life is like… we don’t have control over what happens to us.”

Mesecke was taken to jail on 3 counts including reckless driving. He was not charged with DUI.